American Journal of Applied Sciences 3 (11): 2134-2135, 2006

ISSN 1546-9239
© 2006 Science Publications
Characteristic Curve of a Fuel Cell

Muzamir Isa, Baharuddin Ismail, Che Mat Hadzer, Ismail Daut and Faizah Abu Bakar
School of Electrical System Engineering, KUKUM, Malaysia

Abstract: The aim of this study was to deliver information about the features of fuel cells. It cover
analysis of theory and experiment done using a set of tool called Hydro Genius Teach. The experiment
is about investigating the characteristic curve of a fuel cell from the processes of renewable energy.
Others objectives of this study were to analyze current usage of renewable energy in the world and to
do analysis on features of fuel cell as one of ways in renewable energy.

Key words: Fuel cell, hydrogen fuel cell and renewable energy

INTRODUCTION

A hydrogen fuel cell produces an emf by

combining hydrogen and oxygen chemically. A
conventional battery supplies electrical energy in the
same way except that the reactants are eventually used
up and the battery has to be disposed of recharged[1].
A fuel cell will provide energy so long as hydrogen
and oxygen are supplied to it[2]. The current and voltage
output will depend upon the load applied to the fuel cell
and can be seen from its characteristic curve. As the
processes in a fuel cell are the reverse of electrolysis it
is useful to compare the characteristic curves of the fuel Fig. 2: Experimental test set for hydro genius teach
cell and electrolyser. equipment

MATERIALS AND METHODS The gas tubes between the electolyser and the fuel
cell are correctly connected and both of the gas storage
cylinders of the electrolyser are filled with distilled
In order to use the fuel cell as a power source, it water up to the 0 mL mark. By u sing the illuminated
must be provided with a supply of hydrogen and solar module, a constant current to the electrolyser is set
oxygen from the electrolyser. Set up the apparatus as of between 200 mA and 300 mA.
shown in Fig. 1 and 2. The solar module position must be towards the
light source in such a way that gas production can be
clearly observed. Purge the complete system (consisting
of the electrolyser, fuel cell and tubes) for 5 min with
Solar module
Load measurement box the gases produced and the rotary switch on the load on
the load measurement box is set to 3 for 3 min. Purge
Lamp
the system again with the rotary switch in the ‘OPEN’
position for 3 min.
The characteristic curve of the fuel cell was
recorded by varying the measurement resistance.

Electrolyzer
O
2
H2
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fuel cell

Figure 3 shows the characteristic of current and

voltage behavior in fuel cell using 250 mA electrolyser
Fig. 1: Schematic connection for determining current. The voltage decreased when the current
characteristic curve of a fuel cell increased. Fuel cell voltage efficiency using 250mA
electrolyser current can be calculated as follows:
Corresponding Author: Muzamir Isa, School of Electrical System Engineering, KUKUM, E-mail: muzamir@kukum.edu.my
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 Am. J. Applied Sci., 3 (11): 2134-2135, 2006

= (Actual voltage / Theoretical voltage) * 100% Figure 4 represents a P-I diagram for the operating
= (EK / EO) * 100% point of the electric motor. It can be seen that the motor
= (0.96 / 1.23) * 100% does not run at the optimal point, in example hydrogen
= 78.05 %
is being lost.
In practice, efforts are made to drawn as much as
electrolyser 250mA
possible from the fuel cell. However, the efficiency of
1
the fuel cell declines at high current values, so that the
task here is to find an optimum operating point.
Voltage, U(V)

0.95
0.9
0.85
0.8 CONCLUSION
0.75
0 50 100 150 200 250
Current, I(mA)
This study has illustrated the potential of a
hydrogen and fuel cell storage system for electricity.
Fig. 3: Characteristic curve of the fuel cell With this analysis we see that a system like this not
only work effectively but also to provide a more
environmental friendly solution for the future. The
200 difference between the battery and the fuel cell system
Power, P(mW)

150 lie in the environmental concerns of the two systems.

100 We concluded that the fuel cell system is a more
50
environmental system than the battery because the
0
materials that are used together with the high reliability
0 50 100 150 200 250 and effective operation give a greater lifetime than the
Current, I(mA)
battery system.
In the past, the limiting factors of renewable energy
Fig. 4: Power curve of the fuel cell have been the storage and transport of that energy. With
the use of fuel cells and hydrogen technology, electrical
The processes in the fuel cell are the reverse of
those that take place in electrolysis. In the electrolysis power from renewable energy sources can be delivered
of water, at least 1.23 V must be applied before the where and when required, cleanly, efficiently and in a
water begins to split, as a rule the voltage is higher. sustainable manner.
In the case of a fuel cell (a galvanic cell), less
voltage is generated for the same reasons. Here too, the REFERENCES
characteristic curve is affected by the materials used for
the electrodes (catalysis), the internal resistance, the 1. Tambe, R and Hampton, 2003. Renewable Energy.
temperature and the volume of hydrogen and oxygen
Key Note Ltd.
being supplied.
At very small or zero current drain, the voltage 2. Linden, D. and T.B. Reddy, 2002. Handbook of
across the fuel cell amounts to approximate 0.9 V. This Batteries. New York: Mc Graw-Hill.
voltage is called open circuit voltage. In the case of the
fuel cell, it is very dependent on the volume and purity
of the input gases. The more current is drawn from the
fuel cell, the smaller the voltages becomes.
Accordingly, the is an exponential increase in the
current as the voltage declines.

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